Small-sized motor, small-sized vibration motor, and portable information device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is constituted such that a motor is small in size and can be mounted simply, with a sure electrical connection by means of power terminals. There is provided a terminal seat made of insulating resin fitted and fixed to one end of a motor housing, a pair of support pins are held by the terminal seat so as to project in a direction approximately parallel to a surface of a circuit board, respective leads of a motor drive circuit are provided so as to come out from the terminal seat, and there are provided a pair of torsion coil springs as the power terminals that have central spirals fitting over the axes of support pins, ends projecting outward from the terminal seat as points of contact with power supply lands, and opposite ends connected to leads.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to improvement of a small-sized motor and asmall-sized vibrating motor in regard to electrical terminals thatconnect electrically with power supply lands on a circuit board, andimprovement of a portable information equipment in which a small-sizedvibrating motor is mounted.

BACKGROUND ART

It has previously been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open PublicationNo. 11-136901) that the method of electrically connecting the powersupply lands on the circuit board of a small-seized motor using leadsthat extend from the motor housing side be replaced by the method ofattaching to the exterior of the motor housing leaf-spring powerterminals that apply pressure to the power supply lands of the circuitboard.

That small-sized motor has, as shown in FIG. 26, a motor housing 1, abrush holder 2 that is fitted and fixed in the open end of the motorhousing 1, a bracket 3 that is mutually fixed with the brush holder 2,and a power terminal 4 that consists of a leaf spring bent at an obtuseangle (as shown in the drawing). One end 4 a of the power terminal 4 issandwiched between the brush holder 2 and the bracket 3 where the brushholder 2 is fitted and fixed in the open end of the motor housing 1, andthe other end is configured of a free portion 4 b that extends down atan angle from the bracket 3 so as to contact and apply pressure to thepower supply land on the circuit board.

The power terminal made of leaf spring will not have the necessarycharacteristics for practical use if the free portion that is pressedagainst the power supply land on the circuit board is not long enoughrelative to the width. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 27, the long part ofthe free portion 4 b that is pressed in contact with the power supplyland R of the circuit board P must be mounted so that the motor itselffloats above the surface of the circuit board P; it is therefore tomaintain a considerable allowance in the mounting height of the powerterminal 4. This puts constraints on the ability to reduce the mountingheight, and prevents efforts to miniaturize the motor itself and theequipment in which it is mounted.

Additionally, using a power terminal made of leaf spring, there is therisk that when it applies pressure on the board, torsion will cause thetwo power terminals to bend toward each other. Moreover, the pressureapplied on the power supply land on the circuit board depends on thespringiness of the leaf spring. Therefore, unless the motor is mountedat the proper height to accurately maintain pressure between the freeportion of the leaf spring and the power supply land of the circuitboard, there is the danger that poor contact will occur in connectionwith vibration of the small-sized vibrating motor or the like.

In order to supplement the pressure contact between the power supplyland of the circuit board and the leaf spring, it has been proposed(Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-78790) that a flexiblepressure body, to hold back the tip of the free portion, be installedbetween the motor housing and the free portion of the leaf spring.However, even with this proposal there is a height restraint equal tothe thickness of the flexible body, and so efforts to miniaturize themotor itself and the equipment in which it is mounted are prevented.

The present invention has an object of providing a small-sized motor anda small-sized vibrating motor in which the motor itself is small in sizeand can be mounted simply, with a sure electrical connection by means ofpower terminals.

The present invention has another object of providing a smallerequipment in which the small-sized vibrating motor is mounted, and thusproviding portable information equipment of high reliability in whichthe motor is electrically connected by power terminals.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The small-sized motor of the present invention is constituted such thatit has a pair of power terminals external to a motor housing, the powerterminals being electrically connected to leads from a motor drivecircuit assembled inside the motor housing, with electrical power to themotor conducted through a pressure connection between the powerterminals and power supply lands on a circuit board, and such that thereis provided a terminal seat made of insulating resin fitted and fixed toone end of the motor housing, a pair of support pins are held by theterminal seat so as to project in a direction approximately parallel toa surface of the circuit board, respective leads of the motor drivecircuit are provided so as to come out from the terminal seat, and thereare provided a pair of torsion coil springs as the power terminals thathave central spirals fitting over the axes of the support pins, endsprojecting outward from the terminal seat as points of contact with thepower supply lands, and opposite ends connected to the leads.

The small-sized motor of the present invention is further constitutedsuch that there is provided a terminal seat fitted and fixed to one endof the motor housing, a pair of support pins are provided so as toproject from an end surface of the terminal seat in the same direction,respective leads of the motor drive circuit are provided so as to comeout from the end surface of the terminal seat, and there are providedtorsion coil springs at one end of the motor housing as the pair ofpower terminals that have central spirals fitting over the axes of thesupport pins, ends projecting outward from the terminal seat as pointsof contact with the power supply lands, and opposite ends connected andfixed to the leads coming out from the end surface of the terminal seat.

The small-sized motor of the present invention is further constitutedsuch that it has the torsion coil springs of which the contact point iscurved in a U-shape, and the terminal seat on the end of which are checkrims that stop the contact points that twist and displace when pressedin contact with the power supply lands.

The small-sized motor of the present invention is further constitutedsuch that there is provided a terminal seat with a base portion thatextends from the portion fitted to one end of the motor housing andmatches with the wall of the motor housing, a pair of support pins areprovided so as to project in two directions from the sides of the baseportion, respective leads of the motor drive circuit are provided so asto come out from an end surface of the portion fitted, and there areprovided torsion coil springs at the side of the motor housing as thepair of power terminals that have central spirals fitting over the axesof the support pins, ends projecting outward from the base portion aspoints of contact with the power supply lands, and opposite endsconnected and fixed to the leads coming out from the end surface of theportion fitted.

The small-sized motor of the present invention is further constitutedsuch that it has the terminal seat with stop rims that hold the axes forconnection to which the leads of the motor drive circuit are connectedand fixed.

The small-sized motor of the present invention is further constitutedsuch that it has the terminal seat with a tab fitted and fixed into acut-out in the surface of the circuit board.

Further, the small-sized vibrating motor of the present invention isconstituted such that it has a motor housing, a rotor shaft that isbearing-supported inside the motor housing, a magnet and coil assembledon the center line of the rotor shaft, a commutator fixed on the centerline of the rotor shaft, brush seats made of insulating resin fitted andfixed at one end of the motor housing, a pair of brushes held by thebrush seats in rubbing contact with the commutator, a pair of powerterminals mounted outside the motor housing, and an eccentric weightmounted on one end of the rotor shaft that projects outside the motorhousing, the coil being electrically connected to the commutator, thepower terminals being electrically connected to the ends of the brushleads, and the power terminals conducting electricity by means ofpressure contact with the power supply lands on the circuit board, andsuch that there is provided a terminal seat that also serves as thebrush seats, a pair of support pins are held by the terminal seat so asto project in a direction approximately parallel to a surface of thecircuit board, respective leads are provided so as to come out from theend surface of the terminal seat, and there are provided a pair oftorsion coil springs as the power terminals that have central spiralsfitting over the axes of the support pins, ends projecting outward fromthe terminal seat as points of contact with the power supply lands, andopposite ends connected to the leads of brushes.

Further, the portable information equipment of the present invention isconstituted such that it is equipped with the small-sized vibratingmotor as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view illustrating a small-sized vibratingmotor according to one embodiment of the small-seized motor of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an oblique perspective view illustrating the small-sizedvibrating motor according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view illustrating a power terminal end of atorsion coil spring used in the small-sized vibrating motor of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a brush used in the small-sizedvibrating motor of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view illustrating the brush of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an oblique perspective view with an angle of elevationillustrating a terminal seat, as seen from a power terminal attachedside, used in the small-sized vibrating motor of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view illustrating the terminal seat of FIG. 6, asseen from the power terminal attached side.

FIG. 8 is an oblique perspective view with an angle of elevationillustrating the terminal seat of FIG. 6, as seen from a brush attachedside.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view illustrating the terminal seat of FIG. 8, asseen from the brush attached side.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the terminal seat with the brushesof FIG. 4 mounted.

FIG. 11 is an elevation view illustrating the terminal seat with thebrushes of FIG. 4 mounted.

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating the terminal seat with the torsioncoil springs of FIG. 3 mounted as power terminals.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view illustrating the small-sized vibrating motor ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating the small-sized vibrating motor ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 15 is an elevation view illustrating the small-sized vibratingmotor of FIG. 2 as seen from an eccentric weight end.

FIG. 16 is a side view illustrating a mode of attachment of thesmall-sized vibrating motor of FIG. 2 to a circuit board.

FIG. 17 is a side view illustrating another mode of attachment of thesmall-sized vibrating motor of FIG. 2 to the circuit board.

FIG. 18 is an elevation view illustrating, from the power terminal side,a mode of attaching the small-sized vibrating motor of FIG. 2 by meansof a tab on the terminal seat.

FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating the mode of attachment of thesmall-sized vibrating motor of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an elevation view illustrating, from the power terminal side,the small-sized vibrating motor when attached to the circuit board ofFIG. 16.

FIG. 21 is an oblique perspective view with an angle of elevationillustrating the small-sized vibrating motor according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a side view illustrating the small-sized vibrating motor ofFIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view illustrating the small-sized vibrating motor ofFIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is an elevation view, from the power terminal side, illustratingthe small-sized vibrating motor of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is an elevation view, from the eccentric weight side,illustrating the small-sized vibrating motor of FIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a side view illustrating a small-sized vibrating motoraccording to prior art.

FIG. 27 is a side view illustrating attachment to a circuit board of thesmall-sized vibrating motor according to the prior art.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following description is made with reference to FIGS. 1 through 25.Of a small-sized motor for which embodiments are illustrated, asmall-sized vibrating motor that rings by means of vibration, as shownin FIG. 1, is taken as an example. In this embodiment, the mostimportant structural element is the structure of a power terminal, whichcomprises a torsion coil spring that is pressed against a power supplyland on a circuit board.

A representative example of such new terminal structure is shown in FIG.2; this is the first embodiment, which has a pair of power terminals onone end of the motor housing. A second embodiment, shown in FIG. 21, hasa pair of power terminals on the both sides of the motor housing. It isalso possible, depending on the structure of the motor, to have onepower terminal at one end of the motor housing and the other powerterminal at the other end of the motor housing.

The small-sized vibrating motor has a motor housing 10, a rotor shaft11, a bearing and bearing housing 12, a magnet 13, a coil 14, a coilholder 15, a commutator 16, a pair of brushes 17 a, 17 b, a brush holderand terminal seat 18, and an eccentric weight 19, and a pair of powerterminals 20 a, 20 b. They are assembled with the magnet 13 fitted andfixed to the outer periphery of the bearing housing 12 as a stator, andthe coil 14 held in place in the coil holder 15 around the axis of therotor shaft 11 as the rotor.

As shown in FIG. 1, the motor housing 10 is made of metal in a cuppedshape, with one end closed and the other end open. One end of the motorhousing 10 has a projecting tab 10 a and a cut-out 10 b that fix themotor housing together as a single unit with the bearing housing 12,which is molded of resin material that provides ample lubricity, wearresistance, hardness, and toughness. The rotor shaft 11 is supportedwithin the bearing housing 12.

The bearing housing 12 has a through hole 12 a through which the rotorshaft 11 is inserted, and is formed with a retainer 12 b that holds theclosed end of the bearing housing 10 by both sides of the cut-out 10 b,a sleeve 12 c that extends inside the motor housing 10 from the retainer12 b, and an oil sump 12 d which is sunken into the inner surface of thethrough hole 12 a. The bearing housing 12 is assembled with the sleeve12 c held in place by a collar 11 b that is fitted about the center lineof the rotor shaft 11, and with the retainer 12 b separated from theeccentric weight 19 by a spacing ring 11 c that is interposed betweenthe bearing housing 12 and the eccentric weight 19.

The magnet 13 is fitted and fixed to the outer periphery of the sleeve12 so as to form a single piece with the bearing housing 12. This magnet13 is accommodated within the coil 14, from which it is separated by amagnetic gap. The coil 14 is held by a coil holder 15 that is fitted andfixed about the center line of the rotor shaft 11. The coil holder hason its outer periphery a commutator 16 that is divided into two poles;the commutator 16 is electrically connected to the ends of thecylindrical coil 14.

The brushes 17 a, 17 b are held by the brush holder/terminal seat 18 andmake rubbing contact with the commutator 16. The brushes 17 a, 17 b arealso electrically connected, as described below, to a pair of powerterminals 20 a, 20 b. This pair of power terminals 20 a, 20 b are madeto contact and apply pressure to the power supply lands on the circuitboard, and are electrically conductive; in this way the motor drivecircuit is a part of the circuitry.

The power terminals 20 a, 20 b, as shown in FIG. 2, comprise torsioncoil springs with helical moment. As shown in FIG. 3, the power terminal20 a (20 b) is bent from a conductive bar with its spiral portion 200 atthe center, a U-shaped curve at one end of the spring 201 that forms apoint of contact with the power supply land of the circuit board, andthe other end 202 that is a contact piece, electrically connected to theend of a lead from the brushes 17 a, 17 b.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the brush 17 a (17 b) comprises multiplebrush ends 170, made of conductive wire, connected to and held in placeby a lead end 171, which is made of a conductive sheet material. Thebrush ends 170 are curved in a U-shape to maintain rubbing contact withspring pressure against the outer periphery of the commutator 16. Thepair of brushes 17 a, 17 b are set parallel to each other, pointing inopposite directions so as to make rubbing contact over the center lineof the rotor shaft 11.

The brush seat/terminal seat 18, molded of an insulating resin, is thebase in which the power terminals 20 a, 20 b and brushes 17 a, 17 b aremounted. The brush seat/terminal seat (hereafter, referred to as“terminal seat”) 18 comprises a base portion 18a and a fitting portion18 b, with the structure differing between the side where powerterminals 20 a, 20 b are mounted and the side where the brushes 17 a, 17b are mounted.

To describe these terminals and the structure of the seat on the basisof the first embodiment, the side on which the power terminals 20 a, 20b are mounted has, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, support pins 21 a, 21 b,in the form of cylindrical posts, which project outward from the outerside of the base portion 18 a and are approximately parallel to thesurface of the circuit board (not illustrated). These support pins 21 a,21 b can be inserted in the back of the terminal seat 18 after it ismolded, or they can be molded as projections in a single piece with theterminal seat 18.

On the outer surface of the fitting portion 18 b are slits 180 a, 180 b,which are openings that pass through to the side where the brushes 17 a,17 b are mounted. The locations of the slits 180 a, 180 b are offsetvertically because, as described above, the pair of brushes 17 a, 17 bare mounted in opposite directions, one up and one down.

The positions from which the support pins 21 a, 21 b project and thepositions where the lead ends 171 pass through are separated by aroughly cross-shaped partition wall 181 on the outward side of the baseportion 18 a and the fitting portion 18 b of the terminal seat 18.

On transverse walls 181 a, 181 b of the partition wall 181 are notches182 a, 182 b which communicate between the positions where support pins21 a, 21 b project and the positions of the guides for lead ends 171.The transverse walls 181 a, 181 b are a stop rim in which the straightspring ends 202 (contact pieces) that extend from the spiral portion 200of the power terminals 20 a, 20 b are held in place in by the notches182 a, 182 b that slant up toward the centerline.

The cross-shaped intersection of walls has check rims 183 a, 183 b thatswell out in an arc. By this means, as the U-shaped spring ends 201(hereafter, denoted by “contact point (201)” when necessary) of thepower terminals 20 a, 20 b are pressed into contact with the powersupply lands of the circuit board, the spring displacement curves easilyalong the arc surface, and the contact point (201) undergoing springdisplacement is stopped by the check rims 183 a, 183 b, so that thecontact points (201) of the power terminals 20 a, 20 b are pressedfirmly in contact with the power supply lands of the circuit board.

On the side where the brushes 17 a, 17 b are mounted, as shown in FIGS.8 and 9, lead holders 184 a, 184 b project from the inside surface ofthe terminal seat fitting 18 b. The above mentioned slits 180 a, 180 b,through which the lead ends 171 of the brushes 17 a, 17 b are inserted,connect through from the lead holders 184 a, 184 b to the outsidesurface of the fitting portion 18 b.

On the inside face of the fitting portion 18 b there are multiplethickened lips 185 a, 185 b that surround the lead holders 184 a, 184 b,the outer periphery of which fit into the opening of the motor housing10, and there is a check rim 186 b that rises from the groove 186 a andis concentric with it. Also located on the inside face of the fittingportion 18 b is a round depression 187 that receives the end 11 a of therotor shaft 11.

The terminal seat 18, including the structural parts described above, ismolded with the base portion 18 extending out ward beyond the sides ofthe motor housing 10 and the fitting portion 18 b being roughly the samesize as the open end of the motor housing 10. Moreover, the support pins21 a, 21 b rise from the base portion of the terminal seat 18 so as tobe within the height range of the partition wall 181.

The brushes 17 a, 17 b are mounted with brush ends 170 pointing oppositedirections within the terminal seat 18 holders, as shown in FIGS. 10 and11, and the lead ends 171 inserted through slits 180 a, 180 b of thelead holders 184 a, 184 b so that the lead ends bend after passingthrough to the outside face of the fitting portion 18 b.

As shown in FIG. 12, the power terminals 20 a, 20 b are mounted withcentral spirals 200 fitting over the axes of the support pins 21 a, 21b, ends 201 projecting outward from the base portion 18 a of theterminal seat 18 as terminal points (201) that contact the power supplylands, opposite ends 202 that fit in and are held by notches 182 a, 182b of the transverse wall 181 a, 181 b that is a stop rim and soldered tothe ends of the leads 171. The power terminals 20 a, 20 b are positionedwith the spring ends 201 positioned inside the arced face of the checkrims 183 a, 183 b.

As shown in FIG. 13, the terminal seat 18 is mounted so that the openend of the motor housing 10 is in contact with the receiver rim 186 b ofthe fitting portion 18 b and the lead holders 184 a, 184 b fit insidethe motor housing 10, which is fitted to the groove 186 a of theterminal fitting 18 b. The mounted terminal seat 18, as shown in FIG.14, has its base portion 18 a located inward of the open end of themotor housing 10. As shown in FIG. 15, the spring ends 201, which formthe contact points of the power terminals 20 a, 20 b, project downwardfrom the terminal seat 18.

The small-sized vibrating motor thus constituted is mounted inside thecase of the equipment so that, as shown in FIG. 16, the base portion 18a of the terminal seat 18 is against the surface of the circuit board Pand the contact point (201) of the power terminal 20 a (20 b) is pressedinto contact with the power supply land R of the conductive pattern.

This small-sized vibrating motor can have its motor housing 10 coveredby a ring 22 of flexible material, as shown in FIG. 17, or the motorhousing 10 can be received in a semicircular support seat made offlexible material that is interposed between the motor housing 10 andthe surface of the circuit board P in order to position the motor as awhole above the surface of the circuit board P. In these cases, themotor as a whole is mounted stably on the circuit board P.

It is also possible, as shown in FIG. 18, to constitute the terminalseat 18 sit catch rims 188 a, 188 b on either side and the base portion18 a and partition wall 181 extending downward for the thickness of thecircuit board P to form a tab 189. Matching the outer dimensions of thistab, there is a level T-shaped cut-out (indicated by broken lines) inthe circuit board P separated from the power lands R, so that the tab189 fits into the cut-out as shown in FIG. 19. In this case, the powerterminals 20 a, 20 b are positioned together with the power supply landsR and the motor as a whole can be mounted stably with the ring 22 or thesupport seat sandwiched firmly in place.

This tab 189 can have catch claws 189 a through 189 d located along thelower edge of the tab 189, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. Because the tab189 matches the cut-out in the circuit board P, these catch claws 189 athrough 189 d engage the edge of the cut-out and prevent the motor as awhole, including the terminal seat 18, from coming out of the cut-out inthe circuit board P.

When the power terminals 20 a, 20 b of the motor are pressed intocontact with the power supply lands R of the circuit board P, thetorsion moment of the torsion coil springs acts on the support pins 21a, 21 b as shown in FIG. 20, and the contact points (201) of the powerterminals 20 a, 20 b are displaced inward from the base portion 18 a ofthe terminal seat 18. When the motor as a whole reaches its lower limitagainst the surface of the circuit board P (the mounting height), thespring ends 201 of the power terminals 20 a, 20 b are stopped by thearced face of the check rims 183 a, 183 b.

In this small-sized vibrating motor, the contact points (201) of thepower terminals 20 a, 20 b are displaced inward from the base portion 18a of the terminal seat 18 and pressed into contact with the power supplylands R of the circuit board P, and so the mounting height of the motoras a whole is limited to the height of the terminal base 18 a. Inparticular, it is possible to mount the base portion 18 a of theterminal base 18 directly on the surface of the circuit board P with noinsulating material in between, and to achieve small size by limitingthe mounting height of the motor as a whole.

With regard to the motor drive circuit, the contact points of theU-shaped spring ends 20 a act on the power lands R of the circuit boardP with a force to counter the torsion moment from the torsion coilspring. Further, the spring ends 201 that are displaced by contact withthe power supply lands R of the circuit board P are checked by the checkrims 183 a, 183 b, and the contact points (201) of the power terminals20 a, 20 b are pressed in contact with the power supply lands of thecircuit board P, and so there is steady electrical continuity throughthe power terminals 20 a, 20 b.

Additionally, the other ends 202 of the contact side of the powerterminals 20 a, 20 b that are soldered to the leads 171 from the brushes17 a, 17 b are held in place by the stop rims, and so the torsion momentof the torsion coil springs does not act on the contact points 201 ofthe power terminals 20 a, 20 b that are soldered to the leads 171 of thebrushes 17 a, 17 b, and so the circuit structure is stable.

In the second embodiment, the contact structure of the power terminals20 a, 20 b and the structure of the end face of the terminal seat 18differ from those of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, butotherwise it is constituted basically the same as the first embodiment.In the description below, common portions of the constitution areomitted because the same coding is used in the figures; only theportions which differ are described.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the terminal seat18 has a base portion 18 a that is narrower than the outside of themotor housing 10 and that extends in the direction of the length of themotor housing 10, and it has a fitting portion 18 b that rises from thebase portion 18 a. The terminal seat 18 has round support pins 21 a, 21b that project outward from both sides of the base portion 18 a.

As in the first implementation, the fitting portion 18 b of the terminalseat 18 has leads 171 from brushes 17 a, 17 b projecting outward, asshown in FIGS. 22 and 24; the brushes 17 a, 17 b are installed bybending the leads to follow the outer surface of the terminal. Thepositions through which the leads 171 are guided are divided by thepartition wall 181, which has roughly an inverted T-shape on the outersurface of the terminal base 18 a.

The transverse arms 181 a, 181 b of the partition wall 181 have grooves182 a, 182 b that connect to the location where the support pins 21 a,21 b project to the positions through which the leads 171 are guided,thus forming a stop rim.

On the terminal seat 18, the power terminals 20 a, 20 b have theircentral coils 200 fitted over the axes of the support pins 21 a, 21 band, as shown in FIG. 25, the spring ends 201 project outward from thebase portion 18 a to form the points of contact with the power supplylands, while the other spring ends 202 are bent in an L-shape as shownin FIG. 22, are held in place by grooves 182 a, 182 b in the transversewalls 181 a, 181 b as shown in FIG. 24, and are soldered to the ends ofthe leads 171.

In this small-sized vibrating motor, it is possible to make theelectrical connection by causing the contact points on the spring ends201 of the power terminals 20 a, 20 b to undergo spring displacement andbe pressed into contact with the power supply lands of the circuit boardon the inward side of the base portion 18 a of the terminal seat 18. Inthis way the mounting height of the motor as a whole is limited to theheight of the terminal base 18 a. Again, a force that counters thetorsion moment from the torsion coil spring acts on the power supplylands of the circuit board, and can press the contact points on thepower terminals 201, 20 b into contact with the power supply lands ofthe circuit board, so that there is steady electrical continuity throughthe power terminals 20 a, 20 b.

The small-sized vibrating motors of the first and second embodiments canbe installed as vibrational ring-style alarm devices in pagers, mobiletelephones and other portable telecommunications equipment. Because themounting height of the motor as a whole in such portabletelecommunications equipment can be limited to the height of theterminal seat 18, it is possible to reduce the overall size of theequipment, and a sure electrical connection can be made by the pressurecontact of the contact points (201) of the power terminals 20 a, 20 bagainst the power supply lands of the circuit board, thus constitutingequipment of high reliability.

The embodiments described above were explained on the basis ofsmall-sized vibrating motors with brushes, but the constitution of thecircuit by means of power terminals can be applied, in terms ofstructure, to brushless motors and other small-sized motors, or in termsof application to small-sized motors used for output of a rotary drive.

Industrial Applicability

As stated above, according to the small-sized motor of the presentinvention, there is provided the terminal seat made of insulating resinfitted and fixed to one end of the motor housing, a pair of support pinsare held by the terminal seat so as to project in the directionapproximately parallel to the surface of the circuit board, therespective leads of the motor drive circuit are provided so as to comeout from the terminal seat, and there are provided a pair of torsioncoil springs as the power terminals that have the central spiralsfitting over the axes of the support pins, the ends projecting outwardfrom the terminal seat as points of contact with the power supply lands,and the opposite ends connected to the leads. Accordingly, the contactpoints of the power terminals are displaced inward from the terminalseat and are pressed into contact with the power supply lands of thecircuit board, enabling electrical connectivity, so that the mountingheight of the motor overall can be limited to the height of the terminalbase, and the force, countering the torsion moment of the torsion coilspring, acting on the power supply lands of the circuit board appliesflexible pressure of the contact points of the power terminals on thepower supply lands of the circuit board, to provide steady electricalconnectivity.

Also, there is provided the terminal seat fitted and fixed to one end ofthe motor housing, a pair of support pins are provided so as to projectfrom the end surface of the terminal seat in the same direction, therespective leads of the motor drive circuit are provided so as to comeout from the end surface of the terminal seat, and there are providedtorsion coil springs at one end of the motor housing as the pair ofpower terminals that have central spirals fitting over the axes of thesupport pins, the ends projecting outward from the terminal seat aspoints of contact with the power supply lands, and the opposite endsconnected and fixed to the leads coming out from the end surface of theterminal seat. Accordingly, the power terminals can be accommodatedwithin the end face of the terminal seat, and the length of the motor asa whole can be kept short.

Also, it has the torsion coil springs of which the contact point iscurved in the U-shape, and the terminal seat on the end of which arecheck rims that stop the contact points that twist and displace whenpressed in contact with the power supply lands. Accordingly, a forcecountering the torsion moment of the torsion coil springs can act on thepower supply lands of the circuit board, which can steadily applyflexible pressure of the contact points of the power terminals on thepower supply lands of the circuit board.

Also, there is provided the terminal seat with the base portion thatextends from the portion fitted to one end of the motor housing andmatches with the wall of the motor housing, a pair of support pins areprovided so as to project in two directions from the sides of the baseportion, the respective leads of the motor drive circuit are provided soas to come out from the end surface of the portion fitted, and there areprovided the torsion coil springs at the side of the motor housing asthe pair of power terminals that have the central spirals fitting overthe axes of the support pins, the ends projecting outward from the baseportion as points of contact with the power supply lands, and theopposite ends connected and fixed to the leads coming out from the endsurface of the portion fitted. Accordingly, the power terminals can beaccommodated within the two sides of the terminal seat, and the lengthof the motor as a whole can be kept short.

Also, it has the terminal seat with stop rims that hold the axes forconnection to which the leads of the motor drive circuit are connectedand fixed, so that the connecting point of the power terminals which aresoldered with the leads of the motor drive circuit are held by the stoprims. Accordingly, the torsion moment of the torsion coil springs doesnot act on the contact points of the power terminals, and theconstitution of the circuit is stable.

Also, it has the terminal seat with the tab fitted and fixed into thecut-out in the surface of the circuit board. Accordingly, the motor as awhole can be mounted on the surface of the circuit board by aligning thepower terminals with the power supply lands.

Also, there is provided the terminal seat that also serves as the brushseats, a pair of support pins are held by the terminal seat so as toproject in the direction approximately parallel to the surface of thecircuit board, the respective leads are provided so as to come out fromthe end surface of the terminal seat, and there are provided a pair oftorsion coil springs as the power terminals that have the centralspirals fitting over the axes of the support pins, the ends projectingoutward from the terminal seat as points of contact with the powersupply lands, and the opposite ends connected to the leads of brushes.Accordingly, since it is possible to make the electrical connection bycausing the contact points of the power terminals to undergo springdisplacement and be pressed into contact with the power supply lands ofthe circuit board on the inward side of the terminal seat, the mountingheight of the motor as a whole can be limited to the height of theterminal base. Further, since the force, countering the torsion momentof the torsion coil spring, acting on the power supply lands of thecircuit board applies flexible pressure of the contact points of thepower terminals on the power supply lands of the circuit board, thesteady electrical connectivity can be provided.

Also, according to the portable information equipment of the presentinvention, since the above-described small-sized vibrating motor ismounted therein, it can allows the equipment as a whole to be madesmaller and allows a sure electrical connection to be made by thepressure contact of the contact points of the power terminals againstthe power supply lands of the circuit board, thus constituting equipmentof high reliability.

1. A small-sized motor, in which there is provided a pair of powerterminals external to a motor housing, the power terminals beingelectrically connected to leads from a motor drive circuit assembledinside the motor housing, with electrical power to the motor conductedthrough a pressure connection between the power terminals and powersupply lands on a circuit board, characterized in that there is provideda terminal seat made of insulating resin fitted and fixed to one end ofthe motor housing, a pair of support pins are held by the terminal seatso as to project in a direction approximately parallel to a surface ofthe circuit board, respective leads of the motor drive circuit areprovided so as to come out from the terminal seat, and there areprovided a pair of torsion coil springs as the power terminals that havecentral spirals fitting over the axes of the support pins, endsprojecting outward from the terminal seat as points of contact with thepower supply lands, and opposite ends connected to the leads.
 2. Thesmall-sized motor as described in claim 1, characterized in that thereis provided a terminal seat fitted and fixed to one end of the motorhousing, a pair of support pins are provided so as to project from anend surface of the terminal seat in the same direction, respective leadsof the motor drive circuit are provided so as to come out from the endsurface of the terminal seat, and there are provided torsion coilsprings at one end of the motor housing as the pair of power terminalsthat have central spirals fitting over the axes of the support pins,ends projecting outward from the terminal seat as points of contact withthe power supply lands, and opposite ends connected and fixed to theleads coming out from the end surface of the terminal seat.
 3. Thesmall-sized motor as described in claim 2, characterized by having thetorsion coil springs of which the contact point is curved in a U-shape,and the terminal seat on the end of which are check rims that stop thecontact points that twist and displace when pressed in contact with thepower supply lands.
 4. The small-sized motor as described in claim 1,characterized in that there is provided a terminal seat with a baseportion that extends from the portion fitted to one end of the motorhousing and matches with the wall of the motor housing, a pair ofsupport pins are provided so as to project in two directions from thesides of the base portion, respective leads of the motor drive circuitare provided so as to come out from an end surface of the portionfitted, and there are provided torsion coil springs at the side of themotor housing as the pair of power terminals that have central spiralsfitting over the axes of the support pins, ends projecting outward fromthe base portion as points of contact with the power supply lands, andopposite ends connected and fixed to the leads coming out from the endsurface of the portion fitted.
 5. The small-sized motor as described inany of claims 1 through 4, characterized by having the terminal seatwith stop rims that hold the axes for connection to which the leads ofthe motor drive circuit are connected and fixed.
 6. The small-sizedmotor as described in claim 1, characterized by having the terminal seatwith a tab fitted and fixed into a cut-out in the surface of the circuitboard.
 7. A small-sized vibrating motor including a motor housing, arotor shaft that is bearing-supported inside the motor housing, a magnetand coil assembled on the center line of the rotor shaft, a commutatorfixed on the center line of the rotor shaft, brush seats made ofinsulating resin fitted and fixed at one end of the motor housing, apair of brushes held by the brush seats in rubbing contact with thecommutator, a pair of power terminals mounted outside the motor housing,and an eccentric weight mounted on one end of the rotor shaft thatprojects outside the motor housing, the coil being electricallyconnected to the commutator, the power terminals being electricallyconnected to the ends of the brush leads, and the power terminalsconducting electricity by means of pressure contact with the powersupply lands on the circuit board, characterized in that there isprovided a terminal seat that also serves as the brush seats, a pair ofsupport pins are held by the terminal seat so as to project in adirection approximately parallel to a surface of the circuit board,respective leads are provided so as to come out from the end surface ofthe terminal seat, and there are provided a pair of torsion coil springsas the power terminals that have central spirals fitting over the axesof the support pins, ends projecting outward from the terminal seat aspoints of contact with the power supply lands, and opposite endsconnected to the leads of brushes.
 8. A portable information equipment,characterized by being equipped with the small-sized vibrating motor asdescribed in claim 7.